Unemployment rates for the month of January were recently released and showed Franklin County had a significant increase in jobless claims since December 2013.

Unemployment rates for the month of January were recently released and showed Franklin County had a significant increase in unemployment since December 2013.

Franklin County’s unemployment rate rose to 9.4 percent in January, representing a 2.5 percent increase from December’s rate of 6.9 percent.

That total represents 1,194 local residents who are reported to be unemployed, which is an increase from 867 people the previous month. It’s also 77 more people than it was at this same time last year.

Even though Franklin County’s unemployment rate rose significantly in January, statewide, the unemployment rate remained the same as the previous month.

Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees announced today that Alabama’s preliminary January unemployment rate is 6.1 percent, which is unchanged from the December 2013 rate, and below the January 2013 rate of 6.7%.

January’s rate represents 130,444 unemployed persons, compared to 129,633 in December 2013, and 144,410 in January 2013.

“Looking at the seasonally adjusted numbers, we saw growth in both the labor force and the number of people working in Alabama in January, and those are positive signs,” Surtees said.

“Additionally, the number of job orders we received on JobLink have, once again, set a record for the highest number of job orders in the history of the site.

“Although the number of jobs reported decreased, this is a common occurrence in January, and is due, in large part, to retailers laying off seasonal help.”

The number of people working in Alabama in January increased to 1,990,637 from 1,984,264 in December 2013 (seasonally adjusted). The Civilian Labor Force, or people who are either working or actively seeking work, increased to 2,121,081 from 2,113,897 in December 2013 (seasonally adjusted).

In January, there were 21,315 active job orders on JobLink, Alabama’s free online jobs database, the highest number recorded in the site’s nine year history.

Wage and salary employment, which is the measure of how many jobs Alabama’s economy supports and is reported by employers, decreased 33,600 over the month. The losses were seen in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector, primarily in retail trade, the leisure and hospitality sector, and the professional and business services sector, among others.

Over the past 12 months (January 2013-January 2014), wage and salary employment increased by 20,400. Gains were due to increases in the leisure and hospitality sector, the trade, transportation, and utilities sector, education and health services sector, and the manufacturing sector, among others.

Counties with lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 4.6 percent, Lee County at 5.5 percent, and Limestone and Cullman Counties at 5.8 percent.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 16.4 percent, Perry County at 13.2 percent, and Bullock County at 12.7 percent.

In northwest Alabama, the reported totals were: Lauderdale County at 6.5 percent, Colbert County at 7.4 percent, Lawrence County at 7.6 percent, Marion County at 9.2 percent and Winston County at 9.5 percent.